Video/Photo Gallery: Batu Caves Hindu Temple Complex

BATU CAVES, Malaysia — Malaysia prides itself on being a multicultural, multiracial society. Although Malaysia is predominantly Muslim, around 6 percent of the population is Hindu, primarily of Indian descent. Carved in caves in the mountains near Kuala Lumpur, the Batu Caves Hindu Temple Complex is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside of India. A 140-foot tall statue of the Hindu deity Lord Murugan guards the entrance. It’s the tallest statue of Murugan in the world. Visitors must climb 272 steep steps to reach the main temple area. As part of the Senior Journalists Seminar, Kim Lawton visited the complex, recording video and taking photos of Hindu prayer rituals occurring there. For another take, visit Kimberly Winston’s blog at Religion News Service.

About This Series

From August 19 to September 10, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly managing editor Kim Lawton will be a member of the 2015 Senior Journalists Seminar, sponsored by the East-West Center. The group is traveling from Washington, DC to Nashville and then on to Honolulu, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and finally Lahore and Islamabad in Pakistan for meetings with government, religious, media, and cultural leaders and activists. Follow her travels on this blog and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.